Bezel for Single DIN -- why so $$$?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 675
Likes: 95
From: North Mankato MN
Bezel for Single DIN -- why so $$$?
Is there any particular reason why a center dash bezel for a new-style single-DIN radio is 3 times the price of that for a dual-shaft radio (old style)?
Is it a supply & demand thing, or is there something special about the bezels? I can't seem to figure out what they have that makes them three-times the price?
(PS: I know you can modify an older dual-shaft bezel -- would rather not...)
Is it a supply & demand thing, or is there something special about the bezels? I can't seem to figure out what they have that makes them three-times the price?
(PS: I know you can modify an older dual-shaft bezel -- would rather not...)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
No reason for extra price that I have found. I used a non GM aftermarket and cut it as you stated. I got it for $40. About an hour to cut it out, looks, works great. mike...
Last edited by mds3013; Jul 31, 2010 at 10:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
The factory style has been around a long time and the casting cost has been long paid for.
Then DIN version is only a few years old, and a new casting/molding tool would be required. It's pretty simple ... new design ... new tooling .... companies are going to charge more to account for increased manufacturing cost. It's not like they are going to sell a milion of these things, so cost is going to go up.
Then DIN version is only a few years old, and a new casting/molding tool would be required. It's pretty simple ... new design ... new tooling .... companies are going to charge more to account for increased manufacturing cost. It's not like they are going to sell a milion of these things, so cost is going to go up.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
The factory style has been around a long time and the casting cost has been long paid for.
Then DIN version is only a few years old, and a new casting/molding tool would be required. It's pretty simple ... new design ... new tooling .... companies are going to charge more to account for increased manufacturing cost. It's not like they are going to sell a milion of these things, so cost is going to go up.
Then DIN version is only a few years old, and a new casting/molding tool would be required. It's pretty simple ... new design ... new tooling .... companies are going to charge more to account for increased manufacturing cost. It's not like they are going to sell a milion of these things, so cost is going to go up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
They are for people like me that are willing to pay for convenience cause they know as soon as they touch the dremel to the oem piece it is going to go crazy and cut the thing into 4 separate pieces and probably take a finger with it. Beside when you consider the cost of the radio that comes with them, they arent that much more expensive than a brand new oem design.
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Livonia Michigan
I bought one of the "high dollar" single din bezels ,thinking I was getting something special, ie. a newly tooled casting to accept a DIN radio.
It was nothing more than what rydoc said he did, above. It was a typical repro bezel cut to accept the plastic adapter for a single DIN radio. (although the plastic adapter came with it and was attached)
It was nothing more than what rydoc said he did, above. It was a typical repro bezel cut to accept the plastic adapter for a single DIN radio. (although the plastic adapter came with it and was attached)
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
I just had a die made to get some cast alloy components from China (nothing to do with Vettes) and even in China it cost US$4500 just to get the die made (which was a simple shape), so I doubt that whoever makes these bezels is going to retire on the returns in the near future.
I bought one of them recently too, even though it is more expensive, I figured that it would look good and I am only going to do it once (I hope)
Cheers
Kev
I bought one of them recently too, even though it is more expensive, I figured that it would look good and I am only going to do it once (I hope)
Cheers
Kev
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Livonia Michigan
I just had a die made to get some cast alloy components from China (nothing to do with Vettes) and even in China it cost US$4500 just to get the die made (which was a simple shape), so I doubt that whoever makes these bezels is going to retire on the returns in the near future.
I bought one of them recently too, even though it is more expensive, I figured that it would look good and I am only going to do it once (I hope)
Cheers
Kev
I bought one of them recently too, even though it is more expensive, I figured that it would look good and I am only going to do it once (I hope)
Cheers
Kev
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24212
It does say that it is die-cast.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,661
Likes: 3,118
From: Shamong, NJ
I can understand the cost of the diecast 68-76 bezel being as high as it is. The company doing them designed and produced the grained insert to hold the radio. They buy the repro stock bezel, cut out the area for the stock radio and then install their adapter into the stock bezel. This entails a fair amount of labor, plus the cost of the bezel and adapter. The stock 72-76 bezels retail for about $100, and a little more for 69-71s, so $200 -$225 for the converted ones doesn't seem extreme.
The price of the 77-82 DIN radio bezel is a little harder to understand. I think all they are doing to convert those is cutting out the stock radio section of the repro plastic bezels.
The price of the 77-82 DIN radio bezel is a little harder to understand. I think all they are doing to convert those is cutting out the stock radio section of the repro plastic bezels.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
I will have a look when I get home and post some details, it is still packaged up because my car is in being painted, so I have not yet installed any of my interior. I got it from Willcox but I have not had a look at it yet. Now you have me worried
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24212
It does say that it is die-cast.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24212
It does say that it is die-cast.
Kev
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The price on those is so high because you are [obviously] going to spend some big buck$ on the stereo equipment upgrade in your car....
...and the bezel maker wants more of the money that you are 'dying to spend' for better sounds!
...and the bezel maker wants more of the money that you are 'dying to spend' for better sounds!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
Does anyone have a picture of how they did this?
I was going to install the original radio in my '71, until I removed the faceplate of the current aftermarket 2-**** and discovered they cut the rectangle opening of the faceplate to fit this thing...
So instead of spending a few hundred dollars that I don't have on refurbishing the original to add an IPod adapter, I'm going with a regular aftermarket unit and some modern speakers.
My concern is the contours of the faceplate, and the gaps around the outside of the ***** that would seem to remain if I just cut the rectangle for a standard DIN opening.
I was going to install the original radio in my '71, until I removed the faceplate of the current aftermarket 2-**** and discovered they cut the rectangle opening of the faceplate to fit this thing...
So instead of spending a few hundred dollars that I don't have on refurbishing the original to add an IPod adapter, I'm going with a regular aftermarket unit and some modern speakers.
My concern is the contours of the faceplate, and the gaps around the outside of the ***** that would seem to remain if I just cut the rectangle for a standard DIN opening.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 675
Likes: 95
From: North Mankato MN
Kind of what I was thinking...since I have an 81. It's obviously not that big of a conversion for these years.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2015
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